Machine for affixing opening threads to envelopes



Jul 10,- 1934.

Filed Sept. 9, 1932 L. A. CHERRY ET AL MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES 15 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS jester (l. ('fierr'g Ciaf'flt''flfllei' Mal ATTORNEYS July 10, 1934. A HIERR'Y ETAL 1,966,333

MACHINE FGR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS 'I'Q ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 INVENTORS Lester a. C'fierr y ('im'eme jk l zdier JJY WW A TTORNEYS July 10, 1934. CHERRY AL 1,966,333

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ Lesl'bmd fiem'y im'em'eN 1 4: 114. 1

July 10', 1934.

L. A. CHERRY ET AL MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR$ ,Zesl e1' '6. (770119 6L pm BY ETORNEYS July 10, 1934. L, A. CHERRY ET AL 1,966,333

, MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Lester 2- 65017 C741 @1709 Nfi'aiier July 10, 1934- L. A. CHERRY ET AL MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 9, 1932 ('iarewee BY 9 INVENTORS Lesler (I. Cfierr ATTORNEN July 10, 1934. 1.. A. CHERRY ET AL 1,966,333

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS Lester Cherv'y Cla veriaejwiiziler M par-0 317 A TTORNEYS y 1934- L. A. CHERRY ET AL 1,965,333

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS' Zesfe r a. C'fierr A TTORNE Y5 July 10, 1934. L. A. CHERRY El AL 1,966,333

I MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS -TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 2 7 24. n: 70 770 168 170 H 1 i 7 6'9 I 6'9 as ca l r 1 168 IE1 INVENTORY LESTT a. C'fierr C larefleejw 1 1 1 1 e1- BY WW M1 l -um A TTORNEYS July 10, 1934. L. A. CHERRY ET AL 1,966,333

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS T0 ENVELOPES Filed Sept; 9 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 IWENTORS Zea [01' a. lfieny and Wm ATTORNEYS July 10, 1934. L A R r AL 1,966,333

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 \kxmxxmmk a:

9 INVENTORS g' jester a C5617 Clm'ence YKEJ 2 BY W M pan/ A41 p ATTORNEYS J y 1934- L. A. CHERRY ET AL MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 LOAD la STATION DISCHARGE IN VENTORS Zesier a: Cher? ClarermeMl/Zai e1' BY ATTORNEYJ July 10, 1934. L. A. CHERRY ET AL MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1932 15'Sheets-Sheet l3 3 m 2 a m, I

ia1'eflae wl'aiier BY W W M pm A TTORNEYS July- 10, 1934. CHERRY ET AL 1,966,333

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed p 9, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 lllllllllll .EHEEE'JJJJ:

p BY ATTORNEYS July 10, 1934- 1.. A. CHERRY ET AL MACHINE FOR AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Filed Sept. 9, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 IN VEN TORS A TTORNEYS lieslm' a. Cbev'r C Zareuce 1}. Z hiier atented July 10, 1934 UNITED "STATES MACHINE FOR -AFFIXING OPENING THREADS TO ENVELOPES Lester A. Cherry and Clarence N. Fuller, Buflalo, N. Y., assignors to H. W. Hilliard Co. Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.,.a corporation of New York Application September 9, 1932, Serial No. 632,382

59 Claims. (01. 93-76) This invention relates to improvements in machines for aflixing threads to envelopes in order that they may be quickly and conveniently opened after having been sealed. More particularly the invention is concerned with a machine for applying such threads to completely formed envelopes, the invention contemplating a machine which is adapted to afifix an opening thread adjacent the juncture of the sealing flap and the body of the envelope so that when the latter is sealed the thread lies in the fold between the flap and the body of the envelope. The thread extends beyond the envelope body and provides-a protruding portion which may be grasped and pulled in a direction transverse of the envelope fold to open the envelope along the fold.

} One object of the invention is to provide amachine in which the envelopes are firmly secured to the envelope carrier while the opening threads 20 are being affixed, thereby insuring accurate positioning of the said threads.

A further object is to provide a machine which is capable without the necessity 'of adjusting the parts thereof of applying threads to envelopes of varying widths.

A still further object is to provide a construction wherein the moving parts are immediately brought to rest in the event that the envelope feed mechanism fails to deposit an envelope upon the envelope carrierat the proper time.

A still further object is a novelconstruction and arrangement of the various mechanisms utilized in the performance of the several operations whereby the opening threads may be aflixed .35 to the envelopes accurately and. rapidly.

A still further object is to provide aconstruction wherein the parts may be removed and replaced With facility.

, The invention is illustrated in the accompanyio ing drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Figure 2 is a view in elevation of one side of the machine. v

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the machine.

Figure 4 is a view similar toFigure 2 but of the opposite side of the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the envelope feeding mechanism. V Figure 6 is a section taken along line 66 of Figure '5.

Figure 7 is a detail section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 5. 1

Figure 8 is a vertical section takenalong line s s of Figure 3. 1 Figure 9 is a section through one of the envelope carrying units and is taken along the line 99 of Figure 1. V v

Figure 10 is a plan view of one of the envelope carrying units.

Figure 11 is a section taken along line 11-11 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a section taken along line 12-12 of Figure 10.

Fig. 15 is a section taken along line 15-15 of Figure 10. I 1

Figure 16 is a section taken along line 16-16 of Figure 9.

Figure 17 isa fragmentary view'of the thread cutter as it appears from line 17-17 of Figure 10.

Figure 18 is a section similar to Figure 13 showing the relation of the parts after the envelope flap ,is opened.

Figure 19 is a similar view showing the position in which the opening thread is secured to the envelope.

Figure 20 is a section similar to Figure 1 showing the relation of the parts when the thread is.being squeezed between the flap and the body of the envelope.

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 17 showing the relation of the parts of the mechanism at the completion of the thread cutting operation.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of an envelope showing an opening thread secured thereto in accordance with the invention.

Figure 23 is a detail section of the operating mechanism for the envelope grippers of the envelope receiving station and is taken along line 23-23 of Figure 3.

Figure 24 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a detail section of the operating mechanism for the envelope grippers at the envelope discharging station and is taken along line 2525 of Figure 3.

Figure 26 is a. section taken along line 2626 of V Figure 3 and shows the operating mechanism for the envelope ejectors.

Figure 27 is a rear elevation'of the mechanisms shown in Figures 25 and 26.

Figure 28 is a detail section taken along line 28'28 of Figure 27.

Figure 29'is a detail section taken along line 2929 of Figure 28.

Figure 30 is a detail view of the driving memher by which the envelopes are caused to move step-by-step through the machine during the thread applying operation.

Figure 31 is a developed plan view of the driving worm.

Figure 3.2 is. a vertical section through the cam by Which the flap opening, thread securing and thread cutting mechanisms are operated.

Figure 33 is a developed view showing the contour of the face of the cam. I

Figure 34 is an enlarged section through the adhesive applying and thread feeding mechanisms and is taken along line 34 -34 of Figure 4.

Figure 35 is a detail section taken along line 35-35 of Figure 34.

Figure 36 is a section taken along line, 36-36 of Figure 34.

Figure 37 is a section taken along line 3'Z"-3'.7.'

taken along line 4l4.l of Figure. 40.,

Figure 42 is a similar section showing the re lation of the clutch parts when the clutch is engaged.

In general the machine includes a rotor which is adapted to provide a plurality of envelope re,- ceiving stations. The rotor is caused to rotate so asto move the said stations successively to an envelope receiving position with relation to a magazine in which the envelopes to which opening threads are to be affixed are carried. As each station moves to an envelope receiving position an envelope is withdrawn from said magazine and. deposited upon the rotor. The: operations performed after the envelope is deposited upon the rotor are, in the order of their performance: (l) securing the. envelope to themtor; (2") opening the sealing flap of the envelope and holding it in. said position; (3') feeding. a section of a continuous'thread' to which. an, ad.-

hesive is applied adjacent the juncture of the sealing flap and the body of the envelope; (4)

folding the sealing flap over and pressing it against the said section 'of' thread; (5) severing the said section of thread from the, continuous thread at a point beyond, the endv of. the. envelope so as to provide a protruding. portion; and.

(6) releasing the envelope'so, thatlitmay be, discharged. from the rotor.,

General organization toanannul'ar flange le formedpr provided on the rotor 10. In the embodiment illustrated; the-units l3zaregspacecl 45 apart'and the rotorlOiscause'd to rotate step-by-step each timethrough an angle or- 45 to successively position the units beneath an envelope magazine or rack- 15" so' that an envelope may be withdrawn from the said magazine and deposited upon one of the units during each pause of the rotor. The magazine 15 (Fig. 5) is mounted upon a cross rod 16 which is supported by arms 17 from a cross member 18. The magazine includes upper and lower guide rails 19 and 20 and a platform 21, the rails 20 and the said platform providing a continuous supporting surface for the envelopes. The rails 19 and 20 are inclined toward a resilient stop 22 which is supported from arms 23 by a cross rod 24. The lowe-r end of the stop 22 cooperates with the forward edge of the platform 21 to provide a discharge opening through which the envelopes may be withdrawn from the magazine and deposited upon the units. carried by the said rotor. To this end a pair of arms 25 is-mounted upon a shaft 26.

Each of' said arms carries a finger 2'7, the said fingers lying at opposite sides of the stop 22. As the shaft 26 is rocked to move the arms 25 downwardly the fingers2-7 are adapted to enter between the sealing flap and the body of the foremost envelope in the magazine and engage the fold provided by the flap and the body of the envelope, whereby as the fingers continue to move downwardlytheenvelope is withdrawn from the magazine. Movement of the fingers in the man'- ner described is effected by a crank 28. The latter includes a body 29- which is formed or provided with an elongated slot 30. The'body' 29 is mounted upon the end of the main cam shaft 31 of the machine. The end of the cam shaft extends through the slot and the body 29' is mounted upon the said end by a block 32 which is carried by" the end of the shaft and which is slid'ably mounted for reciprocating movement in the slot 30; Theblock is suitably grooved at its opposite sides so as toprovide guid'eways for the crank. The body 29 atone end is'connected' by a link 33 to an arm 34' which is carried by the shaft 26'. At

its opposite end the said body carries a roller 35 which fits'in a cam groove 36 provided by a cam wheel 37, the said wheel being fixed to'the cam shaft 31'. Itwi'll be apparent that as the cam shaft 31 rotates the crank 29 will reciprocate, thereci'procating movement of the crank resulting in an oscillatory movement of the shaft 26 and the envelope feeding arms 25 carried thereby. An envelope in its'passage fromthe' magazine I5- to the envelope carrying unit therebeneath is guided w by a curvedplate' 38'Which issupported in cooperating relation with the feeding arms by a. shaft. 38a.

The cam wheel 37' carries a sprocket 39 (Fig.6)

The cam shaft31" is driven by. this sprocket from anauxiliary shaft 40 which carries a sprocket 41, the sprockets 39' and 41 being connected by a.

suitable chain 42. The auxiliary shaft 40' is connectedto drive a shaft 43 by sprockets 45? and 46.

and a suitable chain 47. The. shaft 43 carriesa pulley4'3a; which is connected by a belt 420L110. the drive pulley of a motor 42, the pulley 43a constitut ing a part. of a clutch 44. 7 It will be apparent that when the clutch 44. is engaged. the cam. shaft 31 will be continuously rotated; In orderto move the rotor 10 angularl'y step-by step so as to. en

able positioning ofthe carrier units oneat a.time' beneath the. envelope magazine theca-m shaft 31 carries a worm 48. The said worm is formedwithw a cam groove 49. which cooperates with a circular series of pins 50' mounted upon therea-r face of the rotor 10. The leading and trailing. ends. 5-1 and 52 respectively, as'best'shown inFig 31-, constitute the major portion of. thev groove. These ends of the groove are substantially straight and are connected by a spiral portion 53. V The pins are engaged successively by the worm and are caused to traverse the cam groove, it being apparent that no movement is transmitted by the worm to the rotor during the time that the pins are traversing the straight ends of the groove. In other words, at such times the rotor will remain stationary, movement being imparted to the .rotor only during such times as the-pins traverse the spiral portion 53 of thegroove. During those intervals that the rotor 10 is stationary it is locked against movement by the engagement between the pins and the groove. It will be noted that two of the pins 50 are at all times engaged by the cam groove 49. The entrance to the leading end 51 of the cam groove is enlarged as at 54 while the exit from the trailing end of the groove is similarly enlarged as at 55. The spiral portion 53--of the groove is so located relative to the entrance and exit ends thereof that as one of the pins 50a (Fig. 31) enters the exit portion 55 of the groove the next succeeding pin 50b enters'the spiral portion 53 of the groove. As the rotor 10 is rotated by the movement of the pin 50b in the spiral portion of the groove, the pin 50a passes out the exit 55 of the groove while the pin succeeding the pin 50b moves with the entrance 54 of the groove, it being understood that the rotor is stationary during the time required for the last mentioned pin to move to the spiral portion of the said groove. The cam groove 49 is so formed that each movement of the rotor 10 is through an angle of 45, an envelope carrying unit being located directly beneath the envelope magazine during the final part of each such angular movement of the rotor and remaining in such position until the next succeeding pin is engaged by the spiral portion of the cam groove.

The envelopes, as best shown in Figure 8, are deposited by the envelope feed mechanism face down upon the envelope carrying units.

between the fiap and the body of the envelope and are conditioned for depositing an envelope upon the next envelope carrying unit when the latter is moved into position.

Envelope securing mechanism Means is provided whereby the envelope may be secured to the body 56 of the envelope carrying unit so that in the subsequent thread affixing operations accurate cooperation between the unit and various associated mechanisms is obtained. To this end a gripping element 60 is fixed to one end of a shaft 61, there being one such'shaft journaled at each side of the unit in a suitable bearing 62. At itsopposite end each shaft-61 carries a sector gear 63. Each of the said gears meshes with a companion sector gear 64 which is mounted upon a shaft 65 and which is formed with a tail piece 66. The tail pieces 66 of the gears 64 are connected by a spring 67 which tends to move the gripping element 60 into engage-' ment with the envelope. whereby the gripping elements 60 maybe actuated to enable the positioning of the envelope upon the envelope carrying unit. To this end Each envelope carrying unit includes a body 56 (Figs.

Means is provided each of the shafts 65 carries a knob 68. As the unit moves into an envelope receiving position beneath the envelope magazine 15 the knobs 68 move in front of a pair of operating elements 69 (Figs. 3, 23 and 24) which are carried by a shaft '70, the latter being suitably journalled in the side housings of the machine. The said shaft carries an arm '71 which is connected by a link '72 to oneend 73 of a bell crank '74, the latter being freely mounted upon a shaft 75. The end 76 of the bell crank carries a roller 77 which fits in a cam groove '78 formed in a cam wheel 79, the latter being keyed to the cam shaft 31. The cam groove '79 is so formed that the operating elements 69 are held in their retracted position as the said unit comes to rest beneath the envelope magazine. Thereafter, prior to the deposit of an envelope from the magazine upon the said unit, the operating elements 69 are moved into engagement with the knobs 68 and the gripping elements 60 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 11 against the action of the spring 67. While the gripping-elements are held in this position an envelope is deposited upon the unit beneath the gripping elements in the manner described. Thereupon the cam '79 is operative to withdraw the elements 69 out of cooperation relation with the knobs 68 andpermit the gripping element 60 under the influence of a spring 6'7 to engage the envelope and secure the latter upon the body of the unit.

Means is provided whereby the envelope may be located at a predetermined position upon the body of said unit prior to the engagement of the gripping elements. To this end the body 56 carries at one side a stop 80 (Figs. 10 and 12). At'the opposite 'side of the body an element 81 is loosely mounted upon a headed pin 82. The said pin carries a spring 83. One end of the spring is suitably secured to the head of the pin while the other end of the spring engages the back of the element 81. The upper end of the saidelement extends above the top of the unit and is normally urged by thespring 83 in the direction of the stop 80 at the opposite side of the body. The upper end of the element 81 is moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12 prior to the deposit-of an envelope upon the unit. To this end an arm 84 (Fig. 9) is fixed to the end ofthe shaft 65. The said arm carries a pin'85 which projects in back of the lower end of the element 81. Hence as the knobs 68 are moved by the operating elements 69 to move the gripping elements 60 to their envelope receiving position, the pin 85 engages the lower end of the element 81 and moves the upper end thereof to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 12. It Will be apparent, therefore, that when the knobs 68 are released the pin 85 under the influence of the spring 6'7 will move away from the lower end of the element 81 and permit the upper end thereof to move the envelope toward and against the stop80 before the envelope is engaged by the gripping elements. Thus the envelope is secured upon the body of the unit in a predetermined position prior to the thread affixing operations. I

. .Flap opening mechanism being held in spaced relation to the unit 13 with which it is associated when the said unit is in an envelope receiving position (see Fig. With the finger 86 in this position the envelope which is Withdrawn from the magazine 15 may be arranged upon the unit in the position in which it is to be seciired. The finger 86 is secured to an arm 88 which is pivotally moiinted upon a pin 89. The arm 88' is mounted upon the said pin between a pair of upstanding ribs 90 which are carried by a member 91, the said member being fixed to a shaft 92 which is mounted in bearing supports 93 formed or provided on the body of the unit. The shaft 92 is freely mounted in said bearing supports. The member 91 carries a roller 94 which cooperates with a cam ring 95, the said ring being carried by the flared end of a member 96 which is secured at its reduced end to the cross member 7 of the machine (Fig. 8). The roller 94 follows the cam ring 95, the roller being held in cooperating relation with the cam ring by a spring 97. One end of the spring is connected to a pin 98 carried by the member 91 while the opposite end of the spring is connected to a pin 99 carried by the body of the unit. The arm 99 carries a tail piece 100 which isformed to provide shoulders 101 and 102, the said shoulders cooperating with a dog 103 which is pivotally mounted between the ribs 90 of the member 91 upon a pin 104. A spring 105 is connected at one end to a pin 106 carried by the dog and at its opposite end to a pin 10'? carried by the arm 88, the said spring serving to maintain the dog 103 c and the tail piece 100 in cooperating relation.

The parts areso designed that when an envelope carrying unit 13 is in an envelope receivingposition relative to the magazine 15, the dog 103 engages the shoulder 101 of the tail piece 100 and the finger 86, therefore, as shown in Fig. 5 is held away from the envelope carrying unit so that an envelope may be moved between the hooked end of the finger 86 and the body of the envelope carrying unit and deposited upon the latter.- The arranged between the two arms 25-. The arm 108 is so formed that as an envelope which has been withdrawn from the magazine 15 appreaches the stops 59 of the envelope carrying unit it engages the dog 10.? (Fig-8) andreleases the latter from engagement with the shoulder 101 of the tail piece of the arm 88. Thereupon the hooked end of the finger 86 is movedby the -spring- 105 into engagement with the back of the envelope. During the operation described the rotor 10 is stationary and the roller 94' cooperates with an elevated portion 95a ofthe cam 95-. At a point just beyond the envelope receiving posi' tion the face of the cam falls away as at 109 (Fig. 33) toa lower level 110. The member 91-,

therefore; moves inwardly toward the rotor 10' as the envelope carryingunit is movedaway from the envelope receiving position." During this'movement of the said memberthe dog 103- moves into engagement with the shoulder 102- roller reaches the bottonrof the inclined poi; tion 109 of the cam 95 and they are maintained in such positionduring the subsequent movement of the rotor through an angle of 45.

Thread applying mechanism An envelope having its flap open in the manner described is shown at 111 (Fig. 34) and as it is moved to the position occupied by the preceding envelope 112 is moved toward a section of athread 113' in such a manner that the said section of thread is positioned adjacent the juncture of the flap and the body of the envelope between the said flap and body. The thread 113 to which a suitable adhesive is applied has already been positioned in this manner with re' spect to' the envelope 112. At the stat-ion occupied by envelope 112 however, the thread is also secured to the envelope. Hence as the envelope 112 moves toward the position occupied by the preceding envelope 114 the section of the thread 113 which is to provide the opening thread for the envelope 111 is fed to the station from which the envelope 112 is moved away, the movements of the thread and envelope being so controlled that asthe envelope 111 reaches the station 00.- cupied by the envelope 112 a succeeding section of the thread113 lies along the juncture of the.

flap and the body of the envelope. The thread 113 may be unwound from a suitable spool (not shown) carried from the frame work of the machine; It is passed-in succession through openings 115, 116 and 117 formed in a bracket 118 which is suitably supportedupon the outer side of the housing 5 above a window 119 formed therein. In its movement between the openings 115 and 116 the thread is caused to pass beneath a resilient finger 120 which is carried by the bracket 118, thereby to tension that section of the thread between the finger 120 and the envelope 114. The opening 11"7 is formed in the lower end of an arm 121 of the bracket 118, the said arm extending into a receptacle 122 which provides a reservoir for the adhesive ma terial with which the thread is to be coated or impregnated. From the opening 117 the threadpasses upwardly over a roller 123. Excessive adhesive is removed from the thread by a resilient finger 12 1 which squeezes the thread against the roller,- the pressure of the finger 124 upon the thread being controlled by an adjustable element 125. From the roller 123' the thread passes over a groovedwheel 126 which is carried by an arm 127. The latter is fixed to a shaft 128 which is journauedin suitable bearings carried by a bracket 130, the said bracket being supported" upon the inner side of the housing 5 adjacent the window 119. I V

An arm 131 (Fig. 36) is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 128, the said arm carrying a roller 132 which rides upon a cam 133. It will be apparent, therefore, that the position of the grooved wheel 126 is determined by the cam 133. The latter' is' fixed to and hence rotates continuously with the main camshaft 31. The cam 133 is" so formed that the wheel 126 is raised during each pause of the" rotor and lowered during the rotary movements of the rotor. The mechani'sm described, therefore; enables the thread to be fed through the adhesive to the envelopes at a subst'ant'ially uniform-rate, the" wheel 126 taking up the slack in the thread during the pauses, in the movement of the rotor and giving up the slack during the angular u movements of the rotor. In order to mainamihe eniuses the thread'113 at a minimum it is preferred that the wheel 123 be driven. To this end the said wheel is mounted upon the end of a shaft 134. which is journaled in suitable bearings provided by a bracket 135. The shaft 134 carries a gear 136 which meshes with a gear 137 carried by the main cam shaft 31' (Fig. 3), The thread 113 may be passed directly'between the roller 123 and the finger'124 or it may if desired, be wound about the roller 123 before being passed over the roller.

In order to facilitate threadingof the thread 113 through the various passages described the reeop-' tacle 122 is carried by a flanged support 138, the

latter including'a stem 139. Thesaid stem fits in an opening 140v'vhich is formed in a bracket.

141, the latter being supported fI'QIIl'thQ housing 5 of the machine'. 7 The stem 139' carries a cross pin 142 which is adapted to engage the top of the bracket 14 1 and; support the receptacle 122 in the. desired relation ."with" the thread support bracket 118. At its opposite sides the opening 140 is enlarged to provide longitudinally-extending slots 143, the

slots being of the depth adequate toprovidepassages for the ends of the cross'pin '142. It will beapparent, thereforegthat'the support 138 may be rotated sothat the'ends of the cross pin'142 register with the slots143. When this is done the support 138. together lwith the receptacle 122 may be lowered tothe position shownin' dotted lines in Figure 34. With the support in this posi-' tion the thread 113 may be conveniently arranged upon the thread support in the manner described.

This 'construction'has the farther advantage that the receptacle 122 may be removed with facility when it is necessary contents. 5 1 I 7 When the envelope 111' (Fig. 34) reaches the position occupied by, thev envelope 112 the thread to refill it or to remove its 1 .3 lies adjacent the juncture of the fiap and the position indicated in Fig. 33 as the station. 1

'Just beyond thepoint indicated as the 90 station the cam is formed with a second portion 144, the said portionconstitiiting the highest part of the cam. As the roller 94 rides up; the elevated portion 144, the. member91 ispivoted upon the shaft 92 against the action ofthe spring 97; As the member 91 moves outwardly in this the finger 86 comes into contact with the envelope 7 the remainder I of the pivotal movementof the member 91 causes the finger 86 to move from be}.

tween the fiap andthe body of the envelope to the *position shown in Fig. 20. Itwi1l be appar ent, therefore, that during the final"movement of the member 91 when the hooked end 87 of the finger 86 is moving'along "the body ;of the envelope the member "9'l'and the dog: 163 carried thereby continue to pivot abouttl'ieshaft 92. The

dog 103, therefore, rides' over the shoulde-r 101 of the tail piece'100 to the position shown in Fig. 20. v

Means is provided whereby after the hooked end 87 of the finger 861s removed from between the flap and the body of the'envelope, the fiap is folded over and pressed upon the thread so as to effect the securement of the thread to the envelope. -'For this purpose the member 91 is formed or provided with a pair of oppositely extending arms 145 (Figs.9, 10, 16 and 20). At their ends each of the said arms is formed with an opening 146 in which pins 147 loosely fit. The pins 147 are carried by the rearwardly extending arms 148 of a flap folder 149, the said folder being loosely mounted by means of the said arms upon the shaft 92. As best shown in Fig. 10 the folder is adapted to overlie the fiap of the envelope the' entire length of the envelope, it being noted that the folder is cut away at either side as at 159 so that when it is actuated accommodation will be provided for the ends 59 of the ejectors 58.' The arms 148 of the folder, are, as best shown in Fig. 16','bifurcated-and the pins 147 are preferably pivotally connected to thesaid arms by cross pins 151. The arms 145 fit loosely on the pins 147 and in order to transmit motion from the said arms to the arms 148, springs 152 are arranged upon the pins 147, the said springs being held under compression between the arms 145 10-5 and washers 153 carried by the said pins.

From theforegoing' it will be apparent that as the roller 94 rides up the raised portion 144 of the cam 95 to Withdraw the hooked end of the finger 86 from between the flap and the body of the'envelope, the movement of the member 91 will be transmitted to arms 145. Thus, as

the said arms are caused to move in the manner ment of the arms 145 is taken up by the springs 152. In other words during the final part of the movement of the arms 145, the folder 149 is forced tightly against the flap of the envelope to squeeze the "thread between the fiap and the body of the envelope. A portion of the adhesive carried by the'thread, therefore, is applied to the envelope and firm securement of the thread thereto is insured I I 7 I The shaft 92 carries a'blade 154 which is adapted to cooperate with a fixed blade 155 (Figs. '17

and 21) the blade 155 being adjustably supported upon the body 56 of the unit. During feeding movements of the'thread the blade 154' occupies the position shown inFigure 17, the thread passing over the blade 155 beneath the blade 154. It will be noted that as the blade 1541s carried bythe shaft 92 it willbe moved toward the' cor'npa'nion blade '15 as thefolder' 149 is actuated to fold the flap of the envelope' upon the thread""113. The angularfrelation of the blade 154to'the shaft 92 is'preferablysuch that thebl'ade 154 cuts the thread between the en velope upon the unit with which the blade is associated and the preceding envelope during the final squeezing movement of the folder upon thethread. In other words, the blade- 154 15 adapted. to severthe thread during the' final movement of the member 91 at a time." when the thread is actually seciired'itothe envelepe, In order to insure efficient cooperation between the stationary "and movable blades of the thread.

severing mechanism, a spring 156 (Fig."14) is 

